Cigarette case



C. N. WATSON CIGARETTE CASE Filed March '7, 1923 a JV: Mailman? INVENTOR AITORNEY WITNESS:

ternterse,

5 ES N. 0]! SI. JOSEPH, MOUEI, SIGNOR, OF ONE-FUURTH TU CURTIS 2"! 1-? OF 81?. JUSEIPH, j

application filed March I, 1933. Serial Ito. 628,4'33.

To all whom it my comem:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. WATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cigarette Cases, of which the following is a-specification.

This invention relates to special receptacles for pocket use and has for its object the provision of a novel cigarette case which is so constructedthat it may be quickly and easilv opened with one hand so as to expose the full length of the cigarettes therein, it being thus a very simple matter to extract a cigarette with the utmost ease, the device being equipped with resilient means for normally holding it in closed position so that the cigarettes cannot fall out into the pocket and become dama ed.

Another object 15 the provision of a device of this character which on account of its simplicity and cheapness is well adapted for advertising purposes, it being possible to construct it of leather, fabric or other material upon which advertising matter may be printed or otherwise inscri ed With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illus-. trated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device 1n normal position,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing it opened up and Figure 3 is a cross section.

eferring more particularly to the drawings I have shown my device as consisting of an enlongated case 10 which-is substantially elliptical in cross section or rectangular in cross section with rounded corners. In actual practice this case is constructed from a single sheet 11 of leather, fiber or other material which is flexible and yet has a certain degree of stiflness. In case the device is formed of leather it may be necessary to score the inside of the sheet opposite the ends as indicated at 12 to facilitate bending during the opening movement. Each end is formed of two pieces 13, which may be of the same material as the sheet 11, so as to form a complete enclosure when the device is in its normal or closed position. These end pieces 13 may be stitched, glued, cemented or otherwise secured to the sheet 11 depending upon preference of the manufacturer.

In the use of the device both sides or compartments are filled with cigarettes and in case certain materials are used the natural resilience may be suficient to hold the device closed. In case certain other materials are used which have less natural resilience, it may be advisable to provide a suitable spring 14 located in one or both ends for normally holding the device shut.

In order to extract a cigarette, the operator rasps the case in one hand with his fore nger bent back against the palm and engaging the solid side the opening therein. Holding 'this nger against the back of the case, the operator grasps one side with his thumb and the other side with the second and third fingers and conse uently forces the device into open position. oth compartments are then open and the cigarettes are exposed at full length and may of course be easily removed. When the device is subsequently released the spring 14 will operate to reclose it.

From the foregoing description and a study of the. drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and very inexpensive device which constitutes an eficient and attractive cigarette case and one which is peculiarly well adapted for advertising purposes for distribution, for instance, at banquets, smokers and similar social functions, the advertising matter being burnt into, printed or otherwise inscribed on the case at any desired location.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

A receptacle of the character described including a single sheet of flexible material of the case opposite adapted to form the back, front and sides of a receptacle, and end members secured to the edges of said sheet to define the ends of the receptacle, said sheet being bendable along a line opposite the meeting edges whereby to efiectopening of the receptacle, and an open loop hke spring conformingly fitting within each end the receptacle for assisting in holdin 'the same closed, the spring traversing t e line of bending and 10 havin its ends terminating near the meetmg e ges.

n testimony whereof I aflix m si ature. CHARLES N. w mg on. 

